Post Terrorist Incidents: Is A Backlash Against Sikhs A Case Of Mistaken Identity ?

[Pehlvan]

After the Woolwich attack the issue of backlash against Sikhs comes up. We often hear the excuse that it is because they think we are Muslims, they don't know who Sikhs are etc etc. I think it is actually deep seated racism and hate against anyone who wears external religious symbols and is of Asian appearance. Normally it is politically incorrect to be racist, but when terror incidents occur it gives people an excuse and suddenly becomes acceptable; it gets the chance to come out.

Those of you that wear dastaar and have a beard know how much racism we have suffered since 9/11. How many of you haven't had dirty looks, people laughing at you as you go by, someone calling you 'Bin Laden' ? Is this really a case of mistaken identity or is it a new form of racism directed at Muslims and any ethnic minority that wear outwards religious symbols ? Ask Singhs who go on the tube to work and get dirty looks........do educated, professional Londoners going to their workplace in Central London not know who Sikhs are ?????....come on guys, wake up !

I myself have experienced this and heard from other Singhs that even if you tell them you are not a Muslim and are a Sikh, they don't care. If it were genuine mistaken identity you would at least get an apology.

The offenders in the Woolwich attack were black converts to Islam. Have you heard of any attacks against black people ? Surely these 'angry' people would have mistakenly identified black people as militant Islamists, but there are two reasons:

1) After all the racist abuse black people have suffered in this country, it is too politically incorrect to be racist to them.

2) Black people are known to be aggressive, strong and would not tolerate racism today. (and rightly so)

Also, orthodox Jews have long beards and head covering, surely these 'angry' people would have mistaken a Jew as a Muslim convert. They haven't studied RE so they don't know the difference between a Jew and a Muslim, right ?

The above points prove that it is a very selective anger that comes from these racists and they understand who's who

when they want to. Previously racism was against Irish, blacks and asians, now it is the turn of Muslims and Asians wearing head covering or with long beards (ie. Sikhs).

Note: to state the obvious, I am not saying that blacks and Jews should be attacked, I am using it as an example to prove that attacks on Sikhs (according to the logic and reason that is normally given) are racism and not a case of mistaken identity.

[Hammertime007]

what bout attacks on the Sikh community from Pakistani gangs and racial grooming of girls of a community, why has that been missed out ??

[VanHelsingh]

When 9/11 and 7/7 occured it was rather shocking to suddenly feel eyes trained on me as I went about my business. I'm a big, intimidating lad so I haven't had it as bad as some, but in recent years when something like this has occured you can almost sense the animosity in the air. If someone has a problem I ask them to their face in a rather loud voice; 9 times out of 10 that is usually enough to stop these cowards thinking they can send snide little comments my way as they walk past.

[Mehtab Singh]

When 9/11 and 7/7 occured it was rather shocking to suddenly feel eyes trained on me as I went about my business. I'm a big, intimidating lad so I haven't had it as bad as some, but in recent years when something like this has occured you can almost sense the animosity in the air. If someone has a problem I ask them to their face in a rather loud voice; 9 times out of 10 that is usually enough to stop these cowards thinking they can send snide little comments my way as they walk past.

nahhhhhh, they're probably like "hai ve inna sohna!"

[Pehlvan]

Good on you shera, when they get a strong response they start to 'understand'. This is what we need to do, but unfortunately most of us have lost our martial psyche/bearing.

[VanHelsingh]

nahhhhhh, they're probably like "hai ve inna sohna!"

I walk in slow-motion with a dhol playing in the background. They understand I'm a pretty big deal. :giggle:

@ Pehlvan Ji - The only way to get back that swagger and psyche you mentioned is to recite 10th Paatshah's bani --- I'm a firm believer!

I find younger Singhs who hang around with females in a group get the most grief from passing idiots. The assumption is they're a bit soft, plus it brings them down in-front of their lady friends when it appears they can't stand up to any nonsense.

[Pehlvan]

Absolutely, that what dasam bani is for - to create that bir ras. We also need to be training mma/boxing/wrestling/muay thai ......hard full contact martial arts that work.....EVERY Singh needs to be doing this.

[genie]

If our daastar wearing brothers and sisters are worried about racial physical attack then they should remember why they were given the kirpan (its the right to bear arms) because Guru Ji knew his Sikhs are vunerable to attacks from non-sikhs so they must be armed and have weapons to serve as a warning to potential assilatients that the lion is not toothless, and like a cobra if you come to harm you will get striked down.

Therefore we must think, are we following Guru ji's implementation of not only just the right but also the mandetory order to bear arms?

If you are not then you are leaving your dastaar ......your pagh vunerable to be knocked off and your kesh to be tampered with.

So we come to the issue of living in a modern secular democratic society that frowns upon the use of weapons by citizens to defend themselves against some miscreants who want to harm you .... then you have to ask yourself why wearing the other 4 k's if you arent keeping and implementing all 5?

And if you dont want to use a physical shaster to defend yourself then why are you not making use of the democractic peaceful shasters of pressure groups, networking with Sikh rough and ready street fighters, physically being combat ready fit and also writing letters to MPs, and police to ensure crimes against Sikhs are taken seriously just as Muslims and Jews have their own setup.

[esingh]

I have heard of several brothers telling me they have been looked at in a insulting manner, and the odd silly person shouting out an obscenity whilst driving past (how brave), but nothing serious, yet.

Walk tall, walk proud Sikhs, our masters have told us to defend righteousness. Your mere stride and confidence says a great deal about you and can ward off any potential attack.